President Jacob Zuma will on April 28 bestow the 2016 National Orders on over 30 South Africans and foreign nationals who have contributed to the country as a constitutional democracy, the Presidency said on Wednesday.

“The National Orders Awards are the highest form of acknowledgement that South Africa bestows on distinguished [citizens] and foreign nationals to recognise the sacrifices and contributions that they have made towards building a free, united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in the Constitution,” said Presidency spokesperson Bongani Majola.

The awards, presented annually, would recognise a group of 31 individuals, celebrating their achievements, sacrifices, and their contribution to unity and nation-building.

The orders are divided into five categories: the Order of Mendi for Bravery, the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.

The Order of Mendi for Bravery will be bestowed upon South African citizens who have performed acts of bravery.

For 2016, the order will be bestowed in silver to 10 individuals including Maqashu Leonard Mdingi, who is recognised as the man who recruited Zuma to the African National Congress (ANC), and Major General Jackie Refiloe Sedibe who became an Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) guerilla at age 17.

Those to be awarded posthumously are anti-apartheid activist Hermanus Gabriel Loots who exposed brutality in ANC camps in the eighties; ANC and MK veteran Ulysses “Goggie” Modise who was instrumental in forming the Military Veteran Association in the Northern Cape; MK commander Peter Sello Motau who was murdered by named members of the Eastern Transvaal Security Branch; member of the ANC Revolutionary Council from 1976 to 1980 Wilson Ndaliso Boy Ngcayiya; ANC organiser and MK commander Joseph “Mpisi” Nduli; General Secretary of the Civic Association of the Southern Transvaal Sam Ntuli; founding Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Sizakele Sigxashe; and, military veteran Major General Peter Lesego Tshikare.

For the Order of Ikhamanga, bronze, silver and gold will be awarded and recognises “South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism, and sport”.

South African singer and anti-apartheid activist Laurika Rauch will receive the order in bronze while in silver, Xitsonga traditional performer Thomas Hasani Chauke, dancer Sylvia “Magogo” Glasser, and indigenous literary and language expert Marguerite Poland will be recognised.

Gold orders will be bestowed upon Professor Rosina Mamokgethi Phakeng and, posthumously, to Benedict Wallet Vilakazi for his “exceptional contribution to the field of literature in indigenous languages and the preservation of isiZulu culture”.

The Order of the Baobab, which recognises South African citizens who have contributed to community service, business and economy, science, medicine and technological innovation, will be awarded in silver and gold to two individuals, Professor Helen Rees and posthumously to Marina Nompinti Maponya.

Recognising those who contributed to the liberation struggle, nation-building, human rights, justice, peace, and conflict resolution, the Order of Luthuli will be bestowed upon nine individuals including Suliman “Babla” Saloojee, Sathyandranath Ragunanan Maharaj, Amy Rietstein Thornton, and Cleopas Madoda Nsibande.

The Order of Mapungubwe, which recognises South African citizens who have “impacted internationally and served the interests of the Republic”, will be awarded to the late journalist Zwelakhe Sisulu.

The final order, the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo will recognise “eminent foreign nationals for friendship shown to South Africa”.

“It is therefore an Order of peace, cooperation, and active expression of solidarity and support,” said Majola.

Those to be recognised are Algeria’s Noureddine Djoudi, The Netherlands’ Maria Petronella Adriana Kint, and Chile’s president Michelle Bachelet Jeria.

“We congratulate the nominated recipients and express our sincere gratitude to members of the public for participating in the nomination process,” said Zuma.